Woman guilty of killing ex-husband in acid attack

Danny Cahalane/Facebook

A woman who helped orchestrate a fatal acid attack on her ex-husband has been found guilty of manslaughter and attempted kidnapping.

Paris Wilson, 35, from Plymouth, was found not guilty of murder.

Danny Cahalane, 38, suffered catastrophic injuries during the attack at his home in Plymouth in February 2025 and died in hospital weeks later.

A jury at Winchester Crown Court returned guilty verdicts for manslaughter to Wilson and fellow defendant Ramarnee Bakas, 23, of Islington, London. It also returned guilty verdicts for murder on Abdulrasheed Adedoja, 23, from Neasden, London, and Israel Augustus, 26, from Tottenham, London. Sentencing is provisionally set for those defendants on 8 June.

Along with Wilson, Jean and Arrone Mukuna - aged 24 and 25 respectively - were also found guilty of attempted kidnap. The Mukunas, both from Camden in London, are set to be sentenced on Friday.

Isanah Sungum, 22, from Edmonton in London, was found guilty of being part of an organised crime gang but not guilty of murder and an alternative charge of manslaughter. He is due to be sentenced on Friday.

The jury found Jude Hill, 44, from Plymouth, not guilty of murder and the alternative charge of manslaughter. However, she had previously admitted a charge of being concerned in the supply of cannabis and will be sentenced for that offence on Friday.

Brian Kalemba, 23, from Barking in London, was found not guilty of being part of an organised crime gang.

Adedoja and Bakas were found not guilty of attempted kidnapping.

Devon and Cornwall Police

The court heard Wilson, the mother of Cahalane's child, played a central role in the plan that led to his death.

Prosecutors said Wilson knowingly passed information about Cahalane's movements to a Dubai-based drugs boss called Ryan Kennedy, also known as Frost, and helped facilitate the attack.

The jury accepted the prosecution case that Wilson knew "exactly what was coming" and was prepared to let it happen.

The court heard during the four-month-long trial Wilson and Cahalane met in 2015 while he was still serving a sentence at Dartmoor Prison for drug dealing.

The pair started a relationship which led to a wedding in 2020. Their marriage broke down in 2022 when Cahalane was given a suspended jail sentence for drug offences.

Wilson was pressed for information by Kennedy to help locate her ex-husband, going as far as being offered money.

Messages shown to the court revealed Wilson expressing anger and resentment about Cahalane's new life, including his home and his girlfriend.

Just days before the attack, Wilson sent a message saying she hoped Cahalane and his partner would end up with acid in their faces.

Prosecutors said this was not an idle remark but clear evidence of foreknowledge.

Devon and Cornwall Police

On the night of the attack, two men armed with sulphuric acid and a screwdriver forced their way into Cahalane's home.

Cahalane chased them out of his property, but they came back in and one threw acid on him.

He suffered devastating burns and told police he did not know who the men were but believed Kennedy was behind the attack and Wilson had set him up as she knew he would be home that night as he had their daughter.

An ambulance crew found him in extreme pain and gave him morphine before taking him to hospital, where he died on 3 May.

Wilson denied knowing the attack would take place and told the court she would never have allowed her daughter to be in danger.

The jury rejected her account.

Prosecutors said Wilson lied repeatedly, both to Cahalane and to police, to conceal her role.

In closing speeches, the prosecution described her as a key facilitator whose actions made the murder possible.

During the trial, Jo Martin KC, prosecuting, told the jury Cahalane, 38, was targeted because he owed Kennedy in the region of £120,000.

She said Kennedy had sent messages about having 320kg of cannabis in a shipping container which would have a wholesale value of £960,000 but would be worth about £3.2 million if sold in single gram deals.

The prosecutor said Kennedy became "incensed" at Cahalane's "stalling" and failure to repay the money and first of all organised a kidnap attempt on him on January 19 2025, and then the fatal attack.

She said Cahalane had been able to speak to police from his hospital bed before he died and told them he had built up debts after one of his junior drug dealers had run off without paying him.

She added Wilson became Kennedy's "go-to contact in Plymouth to try to put pressure on Danny to pay up, and then, to get information about Danny's whereabouts".

"Paris Wilson was seemingly happy to give up all that information on the understanding Frost would make her wealthy," she said.

'Lives torn apart'

Speaking after the verdicts were given, Cahalane's family said they felt a "sense of justice" had been reached.

"But it does not bring Danny back," they added.

Cahalane's family added his death had devastated them.

"It has torn lives apart and left a lasting impact that cannot be undone. Danny was not just a victim," the family said.

"He was a son, a father and a loved one. His children will grow up without him and that is a loss that will never truly heal.

"Danny's mum, who sadly passed away the day after him, would have been incredibly proud to see this outcome.

"We take some comfort in believing she would be standing beside us today, supporting the fight for justice."

Addressing the jury after the verdicts were returned, Justice Norton said they had done a great and diligent job over the four months.

"I want to thank all of you for your incredible dedication to this case," she said.

"It has been quite awe-inspiring."